Why is Trump's former defense attorney, Todd Blanche, visiting Ghislaine Maxwell in prison? The obvious answer is that he is negotiating a dirty deal with Maxwell--she testifies that St. Don the Immaculate is pure as the driven snow in return for Get-Out-Of-Prison free pardon.
Here is my guess how this will play out. Maxwell won't get her pardon right away. It would be too obvious that a dirty deal was done if she exercises her pardon and leaves prison right after she testifies in favor of Trump.
Instead, she will be told that she will receive a pardon for favorable testimony at the end of Trump's term. It will look like she received no pardon for three and a half years. By that time, Trump is counting on either being dead , or more likely he is assuming that the MAGA base will have moved on and forgotten the issue. I bet Trump assumes his base is too stupid to put two and two together and figure out that her delayed pardon was given in exchange for her dirty testimony.
And even if they do put two and two together, what are they going to do about it? The Supreme Court said nothing a President does that is within his core duties would be a crime--and giving pardons is one of the presidential duties spelled out in the Constitution. Trump v. USA was one of the worst Supreme Court decisions in history--on par with Dred Scott or Plessy v. Ferguson. But like it or not, it is the law of the land, and the Supremely Corrupt Court gave Trump a Get-out-of-jail free card.
Or it is possible that Maxwell could be promised a pardon for favorable testimony, and Trump never delivers. He could dupe her into believing she will get a pardon and never actually give her one, just like he (allegedly) stiffed hundreds of his contractors/employees/lawyers. What is Maxwell going to do if she is promised a pardon and never gets one? Admit she committed perjury?
The only question is: Are the MAGAts as stupid as Trump thinks they are? If Maxwell testifies in favor of Trump but is not released from jail, are they going to believe her testimony, claim victory for Trump, and forget the whole thing--or will they suddenly develop a brain and realize this is just another Trump scam?
Watch Brian Tyler Cohen's interview with Glenn Kirschner, a former federal prosecutor with 30 years experience. They also suspect a dirty deal is in the works.
Remember: Donald Trump wished Ghislaine Maxwell well.
Lawrence O'Donnell notes that Trump never wished any of Epstein's victims well.
